Audemars Piguet  Royal Oak Offshore  Watches

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore: The Sportier and Sturdier Royal Oak

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore collection is a powerful reimagining of the original Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection. While the timepieces in the collection give a nod to their roots with their porthole design that is reminiscent of the original Royal Oak, it's apparent that both Audemars Piguet collections are still widely different in terms of the intricacies in design. The Royal Oak Offshore collection is distinguishable by the "tapisserie" engraving on the dial of each timepiece. 

From dive watches to eye-catching women's models, there is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch for every kind of aficionado, and they will surely add a certain flair to your wardrobe. 

Prices at a Glance: The Most Popular Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watches

How much is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch? 

The timepieces in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore collection are eye-catching and powerful. Their models combine classic functions with powerful materials to create watches that showcase high-quality craftsmanship and precision. 

Such an example is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari. By far, this timepiece is the closest to the 1972 original as it can get. The Bumblebee, on the other hand, is another Royal Oak Offshore model that is unique. This model gets its nickname simply because of its yellow and black dial design which is reminiscent of the bumblebee. The price of the Safari can range anywhere from $15,200 USD to $19,700 USD, while the Bumblebee is priced from around $19,000 USD to $20,600 USD. 

As mentioned, the Royal Oak Offshore is a powerful watch that can even be used for diving. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver is a fantastic choice for divers as it is an automatic watch that has a unidirectional rotatable bezel that allows you to check and keep track of your dive time. Moreover, the timepiece also has an internal bezel. Additionally, if you're a fan of Chronograph watches, there are also Diver watches that have that function. Prices for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver watches start at $22,300 USD.

Up next is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph watch. Most timepieces in the collection are powered by the in-house Caliber 3126/3840, which means that the timepieces are automatic and self-winding. If you own a watch with the caliber 3126, it has a 50-hour power reserve and a 22-carat gold rotor. The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph watches start at around $24,999 USD.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph is a true gem in the collection. It features both a tourbillon and a chronograph, which makes it a prime example of the company's promise of high-quality precision and craftsmanship. The tourbillon, which was invented in the 19th century, is visible in the collection because of its skeletonized dial. The watch has a 237-hour reserve which ensures that you'll be able to keep track of your time for a long period. Additionally, the watch also features a 30-minute clock and it is also water-resistant up to 100m. The Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph is priced at approximately $331,000 USD.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication models are truly eye-catching as they are functional. These watches have both male and female models, with the latter often featuring diamonds on the timepiece's dial, case, and bezel. The timepieces showcase a couple of noteworthy features including the perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a chronograph. It's a great timepiece to have if you're looking for both functionality and aesthetics. The prices for the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication models start at around $725,000 USD. 

The Royal Oak Offshore collection also has a couple of limited-edition watches that have been made available through its years of service. This includes the Royal Oak Offshore T3 and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore End of Days, which are dedicated to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The watches were released in limited quantities which makes them a bit more expensive than other watches. The T3 can be bought at around $41,700 USD, while the End of Days can be purchased at $48,100 USD. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Legacy is another watch that is priced at a slightly lower tag of $34,700. 

Another limited-edition timepiece is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher, dedicated to the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time. The timepiece comes in a couple of variants, each released in limited quantities. The Rose gold model is priced at $144,800 USD, while the gold variant is priced at $113,000 USD. The titanium variant, priced at $62,500 USD, is the most affordable limited edition watch in this collection.

Additionally, the brand also produced watches for Schumacher's former teammate: Ruben Barrichello. Similar to the Schumacher timepieces, it has different variants that you can choose from. The titanium model, priced at $46,400 USD is the cheapest in this category. Meanwhile, the rose gold variant is priced at around $64,700 USD, and the platinum variant is priced at around $95,000 USD. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore — Is it a good investment?

Luxury watches, in general, are great investments. Watch enthusiasts don’t usually turn down an opportunity to purchase a watch, whether for investment purposes or as a collector’s item — especially one on the same level as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. 

Due to the small size of the watch industry, it has become sustainable and responsive to changes in trends and sales. The industry reacts fast to changes and can easily bounce back from a loss. This wouldn't be possible if the watch industry was bigger than it is now. Because of its flexibility, it is advisable to invest in the watch industry.

Additionally, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watches have a stable value in the market. Its price normally increases with its age, so it will not be difficult to sell them and to gain profit from them if need be.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak vs. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore collection was introduced to celebrate the original Royal Oak's 20th anniversary in 1993. Since then, both collections have become a brand staple. At a glance, the watches may look the same in terms of their shape, screws, and bracelet but here are some noteworthy differences that you might have missed between the two watches. 

First is the size. The Royal Oak Offshore is bigger than its predecessor. It is more robust and features a sportier look than the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.

Second, the dial pattern is also easily one of their biggest differences. While both collections have a tapisserie pattern, the Royal Oak's pattern is known as the Grande Tapisserie while the Royal Oak Offshore's pattern is known as the Mega Tapisserie.

Third, are the differences in the chronograph. The Royal Oak Chronograph has three subdials at the 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 positions. The Royal Oak Offshore, on the other hand, has subdials at the 6:00, 9:00, and 12:00 positions. The positions of the dates are also different. Furthermore, the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph has more added features than its predecessor which might appeal to the modern crowd. 

Deciding between the two collections is a matter of personal preference as they are remarkably similar but also drastically different. It’s up to the user to decide which watch is the perfect fit for them.

The History Behind the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch

Audemars Piguet was founded in Switzerland in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet. They established their place in the industry when they released the original Royal Oak in 1972. Since then, they have become a well-loved brand in the watch industry.

The Royal Oak was designed by Gerald Genta when the brand enlisted his help sometime in 1971 during the Basel Fair. After creating the Royal Oak, Genta would then consider the timepiece as the "masterpiece" of his career. The original design was inspired by a diver's helmet and was known for its octagonal bezel. 

Since its release, the Royal Oak has become a sought-after collection in the industry which led to the production of many other variations of the watch. 

The first Royal Oak Offshore was set to be released in 1993 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak. The watch was targeted towards the younger crowd and sports enthusiasts contrary to the original Royal Oak. This time, 22-year-old Emmanuel Gueit was given the task to design the watch. Gueit wanted to showcase how the timepiece was built and to feature its key elements. His approach was a "deconstructed" timepiece that had a 42 mm case. The watch was nicknamed "The Beast" because the size wasn't normal for the time that the Offshore first launched. 

Despite having initial backlash from the crowd because of Gueit's approach to the design, the Offshore still became a great success. Since then, the collection grew to include more models and more variants to its name. 

Reasons to Buy an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch

If you’re having second thoughts about purchasing a Royal Oak Offshore timepiece, fret not, here are a couple of reasons as to why they are worth the purchase. 

First, the craftsmanship of the collection is on a different scale. Each timepiece from the brand is intricate and some of them even have special fixtures. The intricacies involved with each timepiece are a showcase of the high-quality craftsmanship of the brand. 

Second, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore timepieces have different complications. Each model within the collection features different complications that make the timepiece stand out from others. This includes chronographs, minute repeaters, tourbillons, and other functions that do more than just tell time. Granted that this might not suit everyone's fancy, the Royal Oak Offshore collection brings more to the table than usual watches. 

Third, they are eye-catching yet modest. Despite the functions, intricacies, and complications of a Royal Oak Offshore timepiece, they won’t attract unwanted attention. Yes, the timepieces are eye-catching but they aren’t too eye-catching that it might hinder you from wearing them in public. They are visually appealing but they are modest enough to not attract too much attention from those who are unfamiliar with the brand.

Famous Patrons of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is no stranger to the limelight, as the collection has been seen on the wrists of celebrities and athletes alike. 

Tennis superstar Serena Williams was photographed for a Wheaties box wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Quartz. The timepiece stands out remarkably on Williams who is clad in her classic tennis whites. Additionally, it's also worth mentioning that Williams became an ambassador for the brand in 2014 and wears the Offshore Chronograph daily. 

The Offshore Diver is also popular among athletes and celebrities alike. Champion Tennis Player Novak Djokovic is among the list of those who were spotted wearing the watch. John Mayer also makes it into the list for sporting the Diver as well.

The Offshore Chronograph is also widely popular among watch aficionados, celebrities, and athletes. Actor Denzel Washington and comedian Kevin Hart are among those who are considered to be patrons of the collection.

This list wouldn't be complete without Arnold Schwarzenegger. The brand has a long history of working with the actor and has released limited edition watches for a few of his films. Schwarzenegger's personal favorite from the brand is The Legacy, his limited-edition line that is based on the Royal Oak Offshore collection. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore: A Great Reimagining of an Iconic Timepiece

To this day, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore collection never fails to showcase the company’s craftsmanship and the intricacies that come with each timepiece. While the collection is a more powerful reimagining of the original, it still pays respects to its roots. There is much to adore about the Offshore collection from the features down to the design. There is a watch for most people in this collection so it won’t be hard to find a match for you.